Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



4 sheets-sheet 1.

J. SMILES. i Breach-Loading Pire-Arm. No. 110,505. Patented Deo. 2 7, 1870.

@uw wat J. SMILES.

Breach-Loading Pire'-Arm. No. 110,505

Patente@ Deo. 27, 1870.

.4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. SMILES'.

BreechioadingvlireArm. v N0.11o,505.` Patented Dee. 27, 1870.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. SMILES.

Breach-Loading Fire-Arm. No. 110,505. Patented Deo. 27,1870.

@met tattica ,t

JAMES SMILES, 0F BI RMINGHAM, ENGLAND;

- batters Patent No. 110,505, dated December 27, 1870.

IMPROVVEMENT IN BREECHLOAfD-lNG FIRE-ARMS.

The Schedule referred to in these Lett ex's Yatent and making part of the same.

To all to whom. itmay concern 4 Be it known that I, J AMEs SMILES, of Birmingham, in the county' of \Varwick, England, gun-maker, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented or discovered new and useful Imprvemei-its in Breech-loading Fire-Arms5 and I, the said J Anus SMILES, do hereby declare the nature ofthe said invention, and in what manner the same is to be pew formed, to be particularly described and ascertained iu and by the following statement thereof, that is. to say:

My invention has reference to breeeh-lomling firearms of the kind called-bolt-gnns, that is, guns in whichthc breech is opened for charging and closed for discharging .by means of a cylindrical hollow bolt or plug, capable of sliding and partly rotating in the breech end of the barrel, the pin or striker for discharging the gun being carried' by a sliding cylindrical sleeve or tubular collar, the fore end of which sleeve or collar works upon the rear part of the bolt or plug, which is of less diameter than the fore part.

My invention consists, rst, of the following arrange- :peut or combination of parts for preventing the accidental discharge of the gun:

The under side of the sliding sleeve, hereiubefore described, is furnished with the usual rib,in which are made the hl lilcock and full-cock bcntsforthe sear to engage in to hold the discharging mechanism at half cock or fullvcock. In that part of the rib at which the half-cock bent is situated 1 make a slot, the said slot also passing through the lsleeve. Inthis slot I place a safety-catch, outer end of which, when the said catch or lever is in its normal position, projects in front of the half-cock ent.

At the rear end of that part of the plug or bolt which is of less diameter, I make an opening of a size proper for the inner end of the safety-catch or lever to enter. Ou pushing home and locking the plug or bolt after the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel, the sleeve is left behind and the gun is cocked by the' scar engaging in the full-cock bent.

In order toprevent the accidental discharge of the gun, the sleeveI is put at halt` cock. Ineifecting this the nose of the scar acts upon the inclined outer end of the safety-catch or lever, and raises its inner end, which, entering theopening or recess in the reduced part oi' the bolt, (which has been brought opposite the said inner end of the catch by the locking ot' the bolt,) temporarily locks or fastens the sleeve and bolt together, amt-prevents the rotation of the holt. The sleeve, and, consequently, the discharging mechanism, cannot therefore advance to discharge the gun, and great safety, in the gun is thus insured.

To discharge the gun it is only necessary to pull Pback the sleeve so as to engage the scar with the fulleonsisting of a small lever, the

'lhe upper end ofthe safety-catch, on bced iiom the action of the scar, passes plug, and releases the sleeve,

ischarge the gun.

of the following nrcock bent. ing thus rcliev out ot' the recess in the which can now advance to d My invention consists, secondly, rangement of parts i'or permitting o or the gas through the closing-bolt oi plu" in case imperfect cartridges are` iired, that is, cart-ridges which allow ofthe passage of gas through the bas lz Then suoli cartridges are iired, thc back action of the gas upon the pin or striker forces the said pin or striker violently bac-k, and injures the mechanism ot' the -gun. lhe object oi' this part of my invention is to remedy, wholly or mainly, this defect. I eii'ect this by making' near the front end of the closing-bolt'or plug a gas-vent or hole. When the pin or striker is advanced to discharge th pin or striker covers the said gas-veut or hole. W'hen, however, an imperfect cartridge is li'ed, the gas from the said cartridge, entering the plug or bolt through the hole in which the pin or striker wdrks, forces back the collar-,of the pin or striker, and thereby uncovers the gas-vent in the plug, through which the gas rapidly escapes.4 lhe said pin or strikcr'is thus relieved wholly or mainlyfroin the back action ofthe gas, and the gun is consequently uuinjnrcd by such back action.

Having explained the naturetof my invention, I will proceed to describe, with reference tothe accompanying drawing, the manner in which the same is to be performed.

Figure 1 breech-loading boltthe parts of the gun. and Figure 2 represents the same after discharge and before the handle of the closing-plug or bolt of the' gun is raised to unlock the said plug or bolt.

Figure 3 represents in side omvat-iemand Figure 4 in longitudinal section the plug or sleeve of the gun, detached.

Figure 5 represents a plan of the under sleeve, separate] y.

Figure (5 represents a pl said sleeve and Figure 7, a side elev Figure S represents a plan of the upper side and side elevation of th'e plug or bolt, separately.

` Figures 9, 10, 11, 12,:u1d 13 representmodifications oi' my improvements for withdrawing the pin or striker into a position of safety.

'Ihe other figures repre inafter described.

'I hc same letters o parts in the several -iigurcs of the drawing.

Before proceeding to describe my improvements. I

represents in plan thc breech end of a gun containing my improvements, heilig in position for discharge;

bolt and side of the an of the upper side of the ation of thc same.

sent parts of the gun, as heret' the ready escape.

e gun the guidecollar on thek f reference indicate the same."

'b2,'of the boltb b2.

- discharge of the gun the will briefly explain the a is the barrel; and l) b2 is the tubnlarplug or bolt by end is opened and closed, the said o'f sliding and partly rotating iu the partsof the gun and its action.

which the breech bolt being capable g open breech-chainber or shoe c of the gun. f

. On the larger part, b, 'of'the plug orbolt is a rib, d, to which the handle d, by which the plug is operated is affixed.

The said rib d, on moving the plug tol open or close the breech, works in the longitudinalpopening in the and the rear end ot' the rear ofthe breech-chamber c said rib, when the plug hasbeen pushed honiejmd the handle d3 turned down, as seen in figs'. 'l and 2, bears against the shoulder cz of the breech-chamber or shoe c, and securely locks the plnglor bolt in its place for tiring. When the handle d is li'ted intoa vertical position the rib d escapes ffom the shoulders c?, and the gun may be opened by sliding the plugto the reai` end of the shoe or breech-chamber c.

e is a sliding sleeve working 'upon the smaller part,

On the under side of said sleeve is a rib, 11, containing the full-cock bentfand'the half-cock bent g. By the sear of the gun engaging in the bent g the gun is held at half cock, and by the senr engaging. in the .bent f the gun is held at full cock.

. Fixed to the said sleeve e, and passing through the tubular bolt or plug b b, is the pinorstrikcr i, for discharging the cartridge, the said pin or striker being forced home by the coiled spring k.

. The sleeve e is prevented from rotatingwith Athe bolt by the 1'ib'l,'on its upper side, workingin the `longitudinal slot in the breech-shoe c.

'The frontend of the rib l, on the top of the sleevel e, is formed into a cam-shaped projection, l2.

' The -said cam-shaped projection l is situated beyond the front end ofthe sleeve, and, when the gun` has been discharged, the said projection projects over' the largerpart b of the plu'g or bolt, as seen in lig. 2.

When it is wished to'open the breech to 'reloadthe gun, the handle d3 is raised intoa vertical position so as to lf't the rib d from the shoulder c2 and release the plug bib. In doing thisl the dat part, d, of the rib d bears against the cam-shaped-project-ion l? ou the slid* ing sleeve e and' forces back the said sleeve, and thereby withdraws the pin or striker i carried bythe said sleeve'into abolt.

The position of the. part-s after the handled3 has been raised and the plug partly rotated to unlock the said plug is represented in figs. 3 and 4. When the plug has been unlocked, the rib al against the cani-shaped projection Pof the sleeve, and

the said rib disbronght opposite theslot in the breechshoe c. The plug may now he moved backward to open the breech, the plug pushing before it the sliding sleeve e.

Afteriutroducing a fresh cartridge into the barrel (t the' plug or bolt b lfis pushed home to close the breech and the handle d ',plu'g or bolt.

is turned downi'or locking the said gun 'is cocked inthe usual manner, that is, by the scar of the gun engaging with the fullcock,bent' f of the sleeve e, thus arrcstingthe sliding motion vofthe said sleeve e'and causing the coiled spring 7c to be compressed and the pin or striker i cocked.

In fig. 1 the sleeve is represented in its arrested p'o' sition and the gun 'ready sleeve occupies the position represented in lig. 2. Instead of the cam-shaped projection l2 on the sleeve being acted upon by the front end d2 of Ithe rib dof the plug, the arrangement of parts represented in Aigsli), 10, and 12 may be used, digs. 9 and 10 representing the sleeve separately, and g. 12 the plug 'or bol-t separately. In this arrangeposition ot' safety or within the'plug or of the plug bears' On pushing home the plug or bolt the to bc discharged.. After the mcntI make a cam-shaped recess or opening, b, at that part ot the bolt or plug b wherethe portion of less diameter sets in, and on the front end ofthe sliding sleeve c I make a similar shaped projection, c.

f When the bolt or plug b b2 has been locked for tiring, the recess b inthebolt is brought into aline with Vthe projection e't on the sleeve c, and on the advance ofthe said sleeve to' carry forward the pin or strikeri to discharge the gim, the projection ezenters the recess b3, and the said sleeve and bolt are lockedor engaged. together. On lifting the handle dito unlock the plug, the inclined edge ofthe cam-shaped krecess b3 in the bolt lb, aeting against the inclined edge of the camv shapedprojection-.cz

sleeve, 'and' ther'b withdraws the pin or strikert' into theplug, so as to e in asafe position should the plug be accidentally driven against the cartridge in the bar rela. Or, the position of theparts described may be reversed, as illustrated -in figs. 11 and 13, fig. 11 representing the sleeve separately, and ig.-13 the plug or bolt separately. In this Aarrangement the projection marked d* is made on the plug b, and the recess 'marked c sinade on the sleeve e. Or, instead ofthe cam-shaped projection in the several arrangements described, a pin or stud on the bolt may be made to act against an incline in the sleeve, or the rcverse.

I will no`w proceed to describe my improvements for preventing thc accidental discharge of the gun.

yThis part of my invention will be best understood by referring tothe separate views of the plug and sleeve represented in fig's. 3, 5, 14, 1I), 16, and 17..

In. that part of the rib It of the sleeve e at which the halfcock bent g is situated is a slot, also p assing through thepsleeve. In this slot is a safety-A catch, gz, consisting of a small lever, the outer end of which, 'when the catch or lever is in its normal position, projects in front of the half-cock bent g, as seen in figs. 3 and 5. 4

At the rear of the part b2 of the plug or bolt is a slot or opening,lp, of a size proper for the inner end of the safety-catch or lever a to enter. This slot or opening p is so situatedin the plug that it only cornes been pushed home and locked in its place by t-he turning d own of the handle da. v

Oil-pushing home and locking the plug or bolt b b after the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel a, the sleeve e is left behind and the gun Ais. cocked by the sear `q'(see fig. 16) engaging in the full-cock bentf. In order to prevent the accidental discharge of the sleeve is disengaged from ,the scar q and allowed to advance until, the said scar enters the' half-cock bent y. In eifectlng this the nose ot' the seai q acts upon the inclined outer end o f the safety-catch or lever a, and raises its inner end, which, entering theopening or recess pinthe part -the locking of the bolt,) temporarily locks or fastens the sleeve c and bolt b'bz'toget-her, and prevents the rotation of the bolt. The'sleeve c and pin or striker t', carried by it, cannot, therefore advance to discharge the gun, and great safety. in the gun is thus insured. When it is wished to discharge the gun the sleeve c is pulled back until the scar cock bentf. The upper end of the safety-catch'orlever 11,0n being-relieved from the action of the soar q, passes outof the recess p in the plug b2 and releases theslceve,l which can now advance to discharge the gun.l Instead of causing the safety-catch or .lever to be put into action by half-cock bent, thesaid safety-catch or lever may be raised by aprojecting shoulder or stud on the bottom of the breech-shoe, the said shoulder acting'agalnst a projection on the ver. In this arrangement it is desirable to deepenI thc on the sleeve, forces back the said m, the said 'slot opposite the safety-catch awhcn the said plug has g gun the sleeve e is put at half cock, that is, the said I of the bolt, (which has been 'i brought opposite the said inner end of the catch by q engages with the fulle the engaging of the scar with the undcrsideof the safety-catch or lcl groove in the shoe, in which the projecting shoulder or stud is placed, or to prolong the recess or groove or grooves in the end of the part b2 ofthe holt.

1n order to secure the pin orV striker i to the sleeve ,said nut s screwing upon the screw fi?, on; the rear end of the .pin or striker ,'as represented. A recess is made in the closed end ofthe sleeve e, into which the nut s takes, the said nut lying flush with the closed'- end of the sleeve, as best seen in gsni and 16.

Y I will now proceed `to describe my improvements for permitting of thel escape of gas through the elosingl bolt or plugin case imperfect cartridges are fired.

'lhis part of my invention will be best understood by referring to 'the longitudinal section, iig. 4, and the longitudinal and transverse sections of the bolt, represented separately in Figures 19 and 20.

Near the frontend of the bolt l) is a gas-vent or hole, t, and near the'front endet the pinor striker z is a collar, a, the said collar working accurately in the hollow ofthe holt or plug b.

Zhen the pin or striker t is advanced to discharge -*the gun, as hercinbefore described, the 4said collar u 'covers the gas-vent or hole t; but when an imperfect cartridge is fired, the gas from the said imperfect cartridge, entering the hollow of the plug b through the hole lv, in which the acting end of thepin or striker 'i works, forces back the said collar, and thereby uncovers thegas-vent-orvhole't, t-hrough which hole tthe gas rapidly escapes. v

In figs.y 1 and 2 the position of the gas=vent or hole t, when lthe plug is locked, is readily seen. 'lhe pin or striker 'i is by this means wholly or mainly relieved from the hack action ofthe gas," and the gun is consie-` qnently'uninj ured by Stich back action.'

Having nowdescribed the nature of my invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not -limit myself. to the precise details herein 'described and illustrated,

.as Athe same may be .varied with-out departing from the nature of my invention; but i I claim as I ny invention of improvements in breecli. loading lire-arms of the kind called bolt-guns- 1. The safety-catch or lever for preventing the accidental discharge of the gun, applied to the sliding sleeve and inade to lock or engage the sleeve and bolt or plug together, substantially ashereinbet'ore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Y 2. The arrangement or combination ot' parts, substantially as hereiubef'ore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, for permitting of the ready escape of the gas through the closing-bolt or plug, in case imperfect cartridges are red.

' JAMES SMILES, ."[L 8.]

lVitnesses:

.GEORGE SHAW, 7 Cannon Sftrcct, Bir- RICHARD SKERRETT, mingham. 

